17 March 2023

Starting to head abroad more often? Be aware using your mobile could now cost you big time

Most of the big mobile companies no longer offer free usage abroad - but there are still packages that allow it - we show you one we love

This is the second article in our series of money saving tips for travelling abroad in 2023. It follows on from our page covering the Currensea Currency card - the must have international payment card to support you abroad this year.

The Smarty Sim Card

First of all - why might you need to worry about the sim card in your phone when you head abroad this year?

Well after Brexit mobile phone companies here in the UK no longer needed to adhere to the EU 'Roam Like At Home' regulation that meant mobile contracts had include roaming (subject to limits) across the EU - and most companies have withdrawn the benefit.

Therefore, unless you are on a legacy contract still allowing it, if your contract is with Vodafone, EE or Three you are likely to be affected.

So if you are affected what can you do about it?

There are still a number of companies offering free roaming in Europe - and our favourite is the Smarty Sim Card - who will allow you to use your phone right across the EU - subject to you not being abroad for more than 60 days per trip and not using more than a pretty sizable 12GB of data each month.

If your plans includes calls and texts you use them too - just as you would in the UK.

They offer a non contract, one month rolling deal where you can cancel anytime, and as they are part of the 3 group offer 3G, 4G and 5G access.

Plans start at just £5 a month - for 4GB of data, and £10 will, at the current time, deliver you an enormous 60GB*.

Travelling further afield they offer pay as you go prices which are reasonable in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the US and Mexico, especially if you plan to use WiFi abroad, and only want to use roaming as a back up. You do need to check out the country and rates on a location by location basis though.

So, if you find that you are about to be stung for using your phone abroad check out the Smarty Sim Card - you could save big - both at home and abroad.

• Terms and Conditions apply - please see the Smarty website for full details